iPhone 5: Rounding up the latest rumours

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When the iPhone 4S launched last October, Apple watchers keen for model ’5′ were temporarily silenced by a shiny, new iDevice to ogle. But, as we know, the (often fruitless) guessing game of what the company will release next is just as much fun as the reality itself.

At the top of the speculation list for quite some time is the much-anticipated iPhone 5. Not a week goes by without a new claim, supplier ‘leak’ or image reveal doing the rounds in cyberspace. Now, as Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) approaches, the next-gen iPhone rumour mill has reached fever pitch, with many reports now suggesting that the iPhone 5 will make an appearance at the event on June 11.

Who knows what to believe – at the end of the day Apple plays by its own rules and our job is to merely play catch up as best we can. What is guaranteed is the entertainment value in reading the industry’s predictions – from near-credible to outright ridiculous, we’ve scoured the web to find the best (and ‘best of the worst’) rumours being thrown about. It’s up to you which ones you take note of, and those you throw away.

The new iPhone will launch in September

This latest claim comes from DigiTimes, who have reported that Apple supplier Pegatron and Foxconn have received orders for the next-generation iPhone, set to launch this spring.

The rumour is well-backed, given that the 4S launched just seven months ago. With RIM and Samsung releasing new smartphone models, wouldn’t it make more business sense for Apple to announce the next iPhone after the competitor rush and just before Christmas – retail’s busiest time of the year? Also consider the host of other Apple product lines due  for a refresh.

Many analysts and bloggers believe that iOS 6, or a new ‘hybrid’ MacBook are likely to hit shelves before the iPhone 5. What do you think?

iPhone 5 will be ‘longer’ and ‘thinner’ with larger screen and new connector dock

Going against last year’s reports of a tear-shaped design, websites such as iLounge are publishing information from ‘well-placed’ sources indicating that Apple has designed a longer, thinner model that will feature a bigger screen than the iPhone 4 and 4S:

“The change in height will include a lengthening of the prior 3.5” screen to roughly 4” on the diagonal,” iLounge reports.

“As the new iPhone won’t widen, this appears to confirm that Apple will change the new iPhone’s aspect ratio for the first time since the original iPhone was introduced in 2007, adding additional pixels to the top and bottom of the screen”.

The site even called in artists to create a mock up image of what the iPhone 5 will look like, based on the new measurements (see below).

iLounge also claims that a new connector dock will be included in the  design, featuring “…fewer pins than the prior 30-pin Dock Connector, perhaps only 16″.

It’s believed that the dock will  be pill-shaped, as opposed to the current rounded rectangle, and will feature in all future iDevices.

Metal or glass? Or both?

Adding weight to earlier stories we’ve published on the new iPhone being constructed, in part, using LiquidMetal, tech website Mashable claims only a square section on the back of the handset will contain the futuristic material. It’s also widely believed that the back of the next-gen iPhone will  be flat, and curved, as was reported some months back.

“Another believable prediction confirming past reports is the new iPhone’s alleged ‘Gorilla Glass 2′ front, which will probably be stronger and thinner than today’s iPhones”, writes Mashable.

Claims of LiquidMetal and the new Gorilla Glass seem credible enough, with a number of sources and reputable publications backing the story. As for the shape and form of the new model, at this stage, it’s anyone’s guess.

iPhone 5 will have a redesigned Home Button

In a somewhat muddled post on website Mobile Apps, it’s been reported that the current iPhone’s round Home button will be redesigned to be … round in the new model. Confused? So are we.

The article . written by Vamien McKalin, cites a posting on the website of a Chinese replacement parts supplier, Truesupplier, showing an image (see below) labelled “OEM Apple iPhone 5 Home Button Key.”

Mobile Apps points to the image as headline news, but then appears to do an about face, conceding  “..the changes are clearly seen, though not really a huge chance to warrant any form of excitement. Alright then.

iPhone 5 will be a dud

That’s according to International Business Times who created a full-blown story based on the complaints of one disgruntled forum member on Mac Rumors unhappy with his iPhone 4S. Based on this post and one related comment, IBT posted a (rather misleading) article entitled “IPhone 5 Release Date 2012: Apple Fans Predicting A Dud.”

According to IBT, Apple has a history of disappointing its fans, something that was clearly demonstrated in the recent launches of the iPhone 4S and new iPad:

“This trend of over-hyped yet disappointingly-bland products being released each year by Apple appears to have contributed to a level of discontent that is bubbling just under the surface in the minds of many Apple fans,” the website notes.

“Though there are still hundreds of thousands of die-hard Apple-heads, a growing number of them are questioning the future of Apple, and just what the iPhone 5 release date will bring,”

An interesting statement from IBT when you consider that Apple’s sales continue to smash records and analysts’ predictions every quarter. In Q2 2012 alone, it was reported that on average 645,000 Apple devices were sold daily – with the iPhone 4S a front runner in the company’s overall sales.

That’s it for the week in iPhone 5 rumours, but rest assured there will be more to come. If you’ve heard of others that seem likely, or just plain crazy, share them with us in the comments section below!

@grace_robinson_

Article source: http://www.macworld.com.au/features/iphone-5-rounding-up-the-latest-rumours-53512/

Apple Goes After iPhone5.com Domain

Apple has filed a complaint with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) over ownership of the domain iPhone5.com.

The case is currently under consideration by WIPO’s Arbitration and Media Center, according to documentation on its website.

The filing was first reported by Fusible.com.

The iPhone5.com domain currently houses a discussion forum about the fictional iPhone 5. There are only four discussions with several dozen comments at this point, with the most-recent comments concerning whether or not Apple should have control over iPhone5.com.

According to the WHOIS database, the iPhone5.com domain is registered to an anonymous individual with a PO Box in Fortitude Valley, Australia. The domain was first purchased in February 2008, modified on May 3, 2012, and is set to expire in February 2021.

The iPhone 5, of course, is what most Apple-watchers expected the company to name its most-recent smartphone. But when it was unveiled in October, Apple opted for the iPhone 4S moniker. With rumors about the next iPhone already emerging, however, the iPhone 5 name is back in the news.

Apple owns the rights to iPhone.com, iPhone4.com, and iPhone4S.com, all of which redirect to Apple.com. Typing in iPhone3GS.com, however, redirects to c-ellphone.com, while iPhone3G.com lands on an “iPhone 3G Directory” via searchnut.com.

This is not the first time Apple has turned to WIPO to reclaim Apple-related domains. In November, it went after porn domains with “iPhone” in the title. Last year, Apple also successfully obtained the apple-downloads.com and apple-oem.com domain names. In March, it also won the rights to appleoslion.com, appleosxlion.com, macoslion.com, macosxleo.com, macosxleon.com, and macosxlion.com. In 2010, it was awarded appl.com and aplle.com.

For more, see PCMag’s full review of the iPhone 4S and the slideshow below.

For more from Chloe, follow her on Twitter @ChloeAlbanesius.

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Article source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2404052,00.asp

iPhone 5 Release Date Rumors: Apple 2012 Smartphone Without LiquidMetal Design

The latest iPhone 5 release date rumors and news speculate about the Liquidmetal Technology components which a lot of people had thought would be in the 6th generation Apple smartphone. However, New information suggests otherwise.

New information coming from the iPhone 5 rumor mill states Apple will not use the technology for their next smartphone. One of the inventors of liquidmetal alloys, Atakan Peker, stated Apple would be unlikely to use the alloys for major components in the near future.

This is not the first time liquidmetal gossip has been brought up, then squashed. That said, who knows what’s true or not. Though it doesn’t necessarily prove Apple isn’t working using the technology for the rumored iPhone 5 release date.

According to a recent article, Peker actually stated “it’s unlikely that Liquidmetal casing will be used in MacBooks in the near term.” He also stated that “It’s more likely in the form of small component such as a hinge or bracket.”

So it isn’t entirely out of the question for these components to be used in the 6th generation smartphone. Though an actual full casing is probably unlikely for now. It does seem as if Apple is on to something though.

Do you think Apple is trying to design a Liquidmetal casing for an upcoming smartphone? No matter what the company comes up with, the iPhone 5 release date can’t come soon enough for Apple enthusiasts.

Image: FlyNews

Article source: http://technology.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981323500

iPhone 5 Rumors: Changes Worth Waiting For?

What can we expect from the forthcoming, invariably awesome iPhone 5?

The next version of Apple’s revolutionary device hasn’t even been unveiled yet, but that hasn’t stopped experts (and consumers) from speculating on what features it might have, and more importantly, when it’ll go on sale!

Here’s what is known and rumored about the iPhone 5 thus far:

Colors! Apple has filed patents involving carbon fiber, which could also provide more strength to the phone’s body and a potential new added benefit: color.

Durability! Apple acquired rights to use a product from a company called Liquid Metal Technologies, which could offer the frame more elastic properties.

In other words, your piece will break less easily when you drop it on the street.

Bigger Design: Many new Android phones sport 4-4.5 inch screens, so Apple is feeling the pressure to increase screen size from its current 3.5.

Rumors also project a 20 percent thinner iPhone 5, decreasing from the 9.3mm iPhone 4S to a sleeker 7.4mm, plus a new dock connector.

Processor: The new iPad sported the faster A5X processor, some predict an even faster A6 processor with a gig of RAM in the new iPhone.

The inclusion of LTE, a faster processor and a bigger screen all mean a greater drain on the battery, which would likely be addressed as well.

Timing: Every year Apple hosts a developer conference in San Francisco in June, however, analysts are betting on October for a new release.

Steve Jobs hologram: Too soon? Sorry. We were just watching Tupac perform at Coachella and thinking about Steve dispensing wisdom on cue.

A racist Siri. Just kidding again. But you gotta see that parody.

Article source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/05/iphone-5-rumors-changes-worth-waiting-for/

5 iPhone Camera Features I want in iOS 6

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When Apple announces new iOS features and the new iPhone, I expect to see a number of new camera features and functions.

It is very likely that we’ll see some of these features in June at WWDC, when Apple typical shows off new iOS features, but we could see Apple hold off on announcing all the features to keep some exclusive to the iPhone 5.

Read: iPhone 5 Release Date and Rumor Roundup

While the iPhone 4S’ camera is one of the best smartphone cameras available, Android phones like the Galaxy S III and the HTC One X are upping the ante with new features that users would love to pair with an awesome camera sensor.

5 iPhone Camera Features for iOS 6

Most of these features are already available in third party apps, but it is much more convenient to have features like this built into iOS and available with the tap of a single app instead of trying to find the right app for the right shot. If these features are built in, they will also be accessible from the lock screen.

Video and Pictures at the Same Time

One of the cool new features found on new Android smartphones is the ability to take pictures while recording video. This feature was once a selling point for expensive point and shoot models and DLSRs, but is now a standard feature for the Galaxy S III and the HTC Droid Incredible 4G LTE.

With this feature parents and pet owners no longer need to choose between recording Buffy’s cute face and taking photos.

One downside is that the pictures are lower resolution than those taken when not in a movie.

QuickPix already offers this in a standalone app, but it would be great to have built into the standard camera app.

Burst Mode

The iPhone has almost no shutter lag, but it would be awesome to see a Burst Mode that captures five to ten photos in one touch. This type of mode is perfect for capturing sports on the iPhone or just trying to capture a beautiful moment.

Jailbroken iPhones using PictureMe can shoot in Burst Mode, as shown in the video above, which shows how burst mode might work in iOS 6.

Remote Viewfinder

How often are you forced to retake group photos because there is no way to know if everyone is in the frame. Whether it’s an outstretched hand holding the iPhone or a tripod, it’s tough to know what the image will look like without using the crappy front facing camera.

If Apple added a remote viewfinder feature, two iPhones, or an iPhone and an iPad could pair to turn one into the camera and the other into the viewfinder.

Apps like Remote Shutter and Camera A / Camera B offer this functionality, but Remote Shutter requires the same Apple ID or a separate purchase and Camera A / Camera B requires the installation of apps before hand.

A native feature would automatically sync up with another iPhone using Bluetooth or WiFi, providing the choice of nearby iPhones based on the name of the device.

Share to Facebook

Sharing photos in iOS with Facebook is a pain, especially compare to Twitter. It would be great if Apple finally offered Facebook integration with the camera and photos app.

While Apple’s at it, support for multiple photo uploads to Facebook from the photo gallery would be an awesome addition.

Panorama Mode

A hidden panorama mode never made the cut with iOS 5, but Apple might bring it to iOS 6. The iPhone panorama mode would allow users to capture wide, sweeping panoramas for sharing online.

Unlike Panorama apps that force users to take multiple pictures and stitch them together, this mode allows users to press the shutter once and slowly sweep the camera from left to right.

I’m hoping a full featured version of this would also support vertical panoramas. The great panorama feature on my Sony point and shoot is one of the few things I miss when I go out to take photos with the iPhone 4S.

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Separately these new features don’t mean much to me, but combined they mean I can leave my point and shoot at home without missing out.

What iPhone camera features would you like to see in iOS 6 or as part of the iPhone 5?

 

About the Author (Author Profile)

Josh Smith is Editor of GottaBeMobile and Notebooks.com. He’s always looking for ways to help you get the most of your mobile gear and loves to talk about tech on numerous radio programs. Josh uses an iPhone 4S, Galaxy Nexus and iPad 2 on a daily basis.

You can follow Josh on Twitter @Josh_Smith or find Josh Smith on Google+. Email: Josh@Notebooks.com

Comments (4)

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1. JM_66 says:

   Why not just get an Android phone? It already has all of those features built-in.

   • Ziltoid says:

     Umm, because they want it on IOS.

   • Josh Smith says:

     There are a lot of reasons people choose an iPhone over Android other than the camera. I am lucky enough to use both iOS and Android on a daily basis, so the biggest reason I want this on iOS is because the iPhone takes better photos.

     The One X could be a nice choice though. Look forward to seeing more photo samples and playing with one.

2. Ed says:

   How about a feature that lets you tag or label photos after you take them? This way you can use Spotlight Search to find specific pictures.

   I’m tired of scrolling through thousands of pictures to find one I took six months ago.

Article source: http://www.gottabemobile.com/2012/05/10/5-iphone-camera-features-i-want-in-ios-6/

4G LTE iPhone 5 a Guaranteed Smash-Hit – Buyers Readily Awaiting AT&T Preorders

If new data gathered by leading tech authorities is to be believed, a 4G LTE compatible iPhone 5 would be the success story to end all others.

(Not of course that we did not all know this already!)

According to a recent study carried out by Apple observers, vast swathes of the consumer population are planning to upgrade their devices pretty much as soon as the iPhone 5 release date comes about later this year. What’s more, the survey also revealed that a significant proportion are citing 4G LTE inclusion as the biggest selling-point of the upcoming device.

The results of the survey showed that almost three-quarters of all respondents intended to buy the iPhone 5 around its launch date, while just under half plan to preorder theirs.

In addition, the results also suggest that over 40% will be looking to buy their iPhone 5s from ATT, with Verizon following in second place with around 30%. While general day to day savings of talk and data plans were cited as the number-one reason for favoring ATT, an increasing number are simply hungry for faster data speeds – ATT now offering the undisputed fastest LTE in the US.

Of course, this is when making the assumption that the iPhone 5 launch will indeed bring 4G LTE technology to the lineup, though at this stage in the game anything to the contrary would be rather absurd.

As usual, Apple’s silence on the subject is both admirable and massively frustrating – not that this does anything to quell the rumor-mill. Far from it in fact as analysts and observers alike are once again throwing their own two-cents into the mix and conjuring up quite a picture of the fabled device.

The smart money now appears to be on an A6 processor-packing, larger screen-boasting and fully 4G LTE-capable powerhouse the likes of which would eat even the Samsung Galaxy S3 as a pre-breakfast nibble.

You may also be interested in:

Article source: http://worldnewsresource.com/4g-lte-iphone-5-a-guaranteed-smash-hit-buyers-readily-awaiting-att-preorders/987/frank-little

Apple iPhone 5 Liquidmetal rumours dashed

Posted on 10 May 2012 at 11:09

Rumours that Apple’s upcoming iPhone 5 smartphone will feature a casing made from a material called Liquidmetal have been scotched by the material’s inventor, who claims it will be years before it hits shop shelves.

Apple licensed the rights to use Liquidmetal, invented by a team of researchers at Caltech, before the launch of the iPhone 4S. When that device launched with no sign of the material, pundits predicted that it was being held back for the iPhone 5.

Not so, says co-inventor Atakan Peker. “This is a completely new and different metal technology. Therefore, there is no suitable manufacturing infrastructure yet to take full advantage of this alloy technology”, he explained during an interview with Business Insider “For example, I estimate that Apple will likely spend on the order of $300 million to $500 million – and three to five years – to mature the technology before it can used in large scale.”

While Apple has already used the Liquidmetal technology on a small scale – creating the SIM card ejector pin from the material – it would appear to be quite some way away from the rumoured Liquidmetal iPhone casing – and even further from Liquidmetal unibody MacBook devices, also claimed to be in the works.

It could well be worth the way, however: Atakan claims that Liquidmetal, which combines the best features of plastic and metal, is incredibly strong, corrosion and scratch resistant, and can be cast into complex shapes which are simply impossible with traditional alloys.

Should Apple take the plunge, invest the money and develop a Liquidmetal casing for a future generation of iPhone, it would be the first company to do so: previous implementations of Liquidmetal by companies including Nokia and Samsung have limited their use of the material to creating strong and resilient hinges and other small parts.

Author: Gareth Halfacree

Article source: http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/smartphones/1292173/apple-iphone-5-liquidmetal-rumours-dashed